NTL Cable Broadband - first time used

My daughter is getting this (as soon as NTL in Nottingham fix their
'database' problem) and I've been commanded to get it up and running for her
and 4 other house-mates.
So I'm all set with router/wiring etc etc and have done this as home with
ADSL.

I've read the various on-line resources and have 2 uncertainties re cable:
1) Is it safe to assume that the cable modem provided will have an ethernet
port (to connect to the router) as well as USB?

2) The first time the service is used, should I connect through the router
and set the service up manually, or should I use the USB connection and the
NTL disk and then swop over to the router (I gather MAC address is not an
issue any more)? Or is there a better / different way?

Many thanks
Rory

On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 19:31:01 +0100, Rory wrote:

> My daughter is getting this (as soon as NTL in Nottingham fix their
> 'database' problem) and I've been commanded to get it up and running for her
> and 4 other house-mates.
> So I'm all set with router/wiring etc etc and have done this as home with
> ADSL.
>
> I've read the various on-line resources and have 2 uncertainties re cable:
> 1) Is it safe to assume that the cable modem provided will have an ethernet
> port (to connect to the router) as well as USB?
>
> 2) The first time the service is used, should I connect through the router
> and set the service up manually, or should I use the USB connection and the
> NTL disk and then swop over to the router (I gather MAC address is not an
> issue any more)? Or is there a better / different way?
>
> Many thanks
> Rory

Hi

Yes, the cable modem will have an Ethernet port as well as USB.

I would suggest using the router first and set it up manually if this is a
self-install of course - I'm not an NTL customer and I can't remember if
they still do an engineer install. Have a look at www.cm-forums.co.uk in
the NTL or Routers section if you need some details of what to do or if you
need any help.

Regards

Bill

"Rory" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> My daughter is getting this (as soon as NTL in Nottingham fix
> their 'database' problem) and I've been commanded to get it up
> and running for her and 4 other house-mates.
> So I'm all set with router/wiring etc etc and have done this as
> home with ADSL.
>
> I've read the various on-line resources and have 2 uncertainties
> re cable: 1) Is it safe to assume that the cable modem provided
> will have an ethernet port (to connect to the router) as well as
> USB?

Yes, unless things have changed *very* recently. NB: You *usually*
require a crossover patch cable between router and modem, but not
always, so best be equipped accordingly.

> 2) The first time the service is used, should I connect through
> the router and set the service up manually, or should I use the
> USB connection and the NTL disk and then swop over to the router
> (I gather MAC address is not an issue any more)? Or is there a
> better / different way?

In my experience you are better off not using the 'wizard' stuff on
NTL-supplied CD, instead do the setup manually - there's not much
to it.

1) Connect up the modem, router and one PC. Check the PC has been
allocated an IP address by the router and that it can ping the
router.

2) Power the modem, router and PC down. Wait 20 seconds then power
up the modem and wait for it to 'settle' ~ 30 seconds or so, or a
couple of minutes if its a STB. Power up the router and let it
settle, then the PC.

3) Open IE and browse any web page. You should automatically end up
at the NTL auto-registration site at
https://autoreg.autoregister.net/ - if not, try browsing there
explicitly.

4) Follow the web page destructions (you'll need the user's
registration details from the NTL welcome letter) and you should be
there. Be patient, the registration process can be very slow, but
it usually completes OK.

5) Repeat the power-down/up ritual as in 2).

That *should* do the biz OK. Suggest you look here for chapter and
verse:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...ips/index.html

"Frank le Spikkin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:Xns9570CE6922A2FFlSxxx@130.133.1.4...

> > I've read the various on-line resources and have 2 uncertainties
> > re cable: 1) Is it safe to assume that the cable modem provided
> > will have an ethernet port (to connect to the router) as well as
> > USB?
>
> Yes, unless things have changed *very* recently.
Good - it's just that the sales guy who called spoke about the modem not
needing mains power, but being powered via its USB connection.

> NB: You *usually* require a crossover patch cable between router and
modem, but not
> always, so best be equipped accordingly.
The router I'll be using Linksys WRT54G says 'standard' ethernet cable, but
thanks for the tip - I have an xover cable which I'll take just in case.

> > 2) The first time the service is used, should I connect through
> > the router and set the service up manually, or should I use the
> > USB connection and the NTL disk and then swop over to the router
> > (I gather MAC address is not an issue any more)? Or is there a
> > better / different way?
>
> In my experience you are better off not using the 'wizard' stuff on
> NTL-supplied CD, instead do the setup manually - there's not much
> to it.
>
> 1) Connect up the modem, router and one PC. Check the PC has been
> allocated an IP address by the router and that it can ping the
> router.
>
> 2) Power the modem, router and PC down. Wait 20 seconds then power
> up the modem and wait for it to 'settle' ~ 30 seconds or so, or a
> couple of minutes if its a STB. Power up the router and let it
> settle, then the PC.
>
> 3) Open IE and browse any web page. You should automatically end up
> at the NTL auto-registration site at
> https://autoreg.autoregister.net/ - if not, try browsing there
> explicitly.
>
> 4) Follow the web page destructions (you'll need the user's
> registration details from the NTL welcome letter) and you should be
> there. Be patient, the registration process can be very slow, but
> it usually completes OK.
>
> 5) Repeat the power-down/up ritual as in 2).
>
> That *should* do the biz OK. Suggest you look here for chapter and
> verse:
> http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...ips/index.html
This *sounds* OK - I'm always reluctant to auto-intsall stuff that might
make all kinds of unseen changes.

On Sun, 26 Sep 2004 19:31:01 +0100, "Rory" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I've read the various on-line resources and have 2 uncertainties re cable:
>1) Is it safe to assume that the cable modem provided will have an ethernet
>port (to connect to the router) as well as USB?

Yes.

>2) The first time the service is used, should I connect through the router
>and set the service up manually, or should I use the USB connection and the
>NTL disk and then swop over to the router (I gather MAC address is not an
>issue any more)? Or is there a better / different way?

Doesn't matter, tho easier to diagnose any problems if using direct
connection to your PC. Either way, you don't need the NTL disk except
for the USB drivers. Don't waste time installing CorrectConnect or
whatever they now call their 'orrible software.

The only thing to be aware of is that you *must* power down everything
(modem, router, PC) if you swap from USB to ethernet. This is
nonoptional as otherwise the modem won't enable the ethernet port.
Same if you swap back.

On 26 Sep 2004 19:17:21 GMT, Frank le Spikkin <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Yes, unless things have changed *very* recently. NB: You *usually*
>require a crossover patch cable between router and modem, but not
>always, so best be equipped accordingly.

This is modem dependent but anyway absolutely any modern router will
autosense and X-over if it needs to. Bog-standard Cat5 will work fine
(Plus, NTL supply a cable, but be sure you ask the engineer to leave
it).

>In my experience you are better off not using the 'wizard' stuff on
>NTL-supplied CD, instead do the setup manually - there's not much
>to it.

Indeedy !!

"Rory" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Frank le Spikkin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:Xns9570CE6922A2FFlSxxx@130.133.1.4...
>
> > > I've read the various on-line resources and have 2 uncertainties
> > > re cable: 1) Is it safe to assume that the cable modem provided
> > > will have an ethernet port (to connect to the router) as well as
> > > USB?
> >
> > Yes, unless things have changed *very* recently.
> Good - it's just that the sales guy who called spoke about the modem not
> needing mains power, but being powered via its USB connection.
>

If he says it doesnt need mains power then it is USB only, I have never
heard of a USB cable modem, but maybe its a new thing?

I'm on Blueyonder and our modem's all have ethernet or USB and is connected
to the mains

hth

Ronny

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Rory wrote:

> Good - it's just that the sales guy who called spoke about the modem not
> needing mains power, but being powered via its USB connection.

My NTL modem is mains-powered.

--

Jock Mackirdy
Bedford

"Ronny" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:cj8fmf$6hc$1$8302bc10
@news.demon.co.uk:

> If he says it doesnt need mains power then it is USB only

Not necessarily - it would be possible to power it via USB when
connected using USB, or by an external PSU otherwise.

In message <Xns9570CE6922A2FFlSxxx@130.133.1.4>, Frank le Spikkin
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>"Rory" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>news:(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> My daughter is getting this (as soon as NTL in Nottingham fix
>> their 'database' problem) and I've been commanded to get it up
>> and running for her and 4 other house-mates.
>> So I'm all set with router/wiring etc etc and have done this as
>> home with ADSL.
>>
>> I've read the various on-line resources and have 2 uncertainties
>> re cable: 1) Is it safe to assume that the cable modem provided
>> will have an ethernet port (to connect to the router) as well as
>> USB?
>
>Yes, unless things have changed *very* recently. NB: You *usually*
>require a crossover patch cable between router and modem, but not
>always, so best be equipped accordingly.

I've never come across this with a router - most routers are aware that
cable modems are designed to be connected using a straight through cable
to an Ethernet card in a computer, and are therefore 'crossed' (it's
easier to talk in those terms than MDI / MDIX).

As another poster suggested, I'd expect most routers to do
auto-crossover. Certainly the routers I've used with ntl: (Netgear RO318
and ZyXEL ZyWALL 35) do.


>> 2) The first time the service is used, should I connect through
>> the router and set the service up manually, or should I use the
>> USB connection and the NTL disk and then swop over to the router
>> (I gather MAC address is not an issue any more)? Or is there a
>> better / different way?
>
>In my experience you are better off not using the 'wizard' stuff on
>NTL-supplied CD, instead do the setup manually - there's not much
>to it.

Agreed. The best strategy is to leave the CD completely - most of the
reported problems seem to be *caused* by the CD!


>1) Connect up the modem, router and one PC. Check the PC has been
>allocated an IP address by the router and that it can ping the
>router.
>
>2) Power the modem, router and PC down. Wait 20 seconds then power
>up the modem and wait for it to 'settle' ~ 30 seconds or so, or a
>couple of minutes if its a STB. Power up the router and let it
>settle, then the PC.

You may find it easier to set up with the modem connected directly to a
PC first. Do make sure you enable a firewall.


>3) Open IE and browse any web page. You should automatically end up
>at the NTL auto-registration site at
>https://autoreg.autoregister.net/ - if not, try browsing there
>explicitly.
>
>4) Follow the web page destructions (you'll need the user's
>registration details from the NTL welcome letter) and you should be
>there. Be patient, the registration process can be very slow, but
>it usually completes OK.
>
>5) Repeat the power-down/up ritual as in 2).

If you've directly connected a PC, switch everything off and connect the
router here. Don't forget to configure the router to acquire its IP
address from the ISP (and not via PPPoE or similar).


>That *should* do the biz OK. Suggest you look here for chapter and
>verse:
>http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.d...ips/index.html

Indeed :-)




David
--
David Wood
(E-Mail Removed)